Robert Forster – National Concert Hall – 15/10/25 – Live Review
by Killian Laher

Robert Forster & His Swedish Band – Venue – Main Stage

Definitely one of the fanciest venues Robert Forster has played in Dublin, the National Concert Hall.  Forster opened with a solo, acoustic Baby Stones before being joined by his Swedish band.  The ensemble played a mixture of solo material along with Go-Betweens songs.  Peter Moren on guitar was a bundle of energy, and his deft technique on guitar was mirrored by him bouncing around on stage, while the rhythm section held it all together.

Always, with its peculiar guitar lick, was an early highlight as Forster and the band were clearly there to have fun on the upbeat likes of 121, Tell It Back To Me and Good to Cry.  They rocked up German Farmhouse and Was There Anything I Could Do, but the biggest reaction from the audience was saved for classics like Draining the Pool for You, Clouds and Spring Rain.  This last one had a member of the audience up dancing in the posh venue!

It wasn’t all energetic material; Breakfast On The Train and Foolish I Know were played with sensitivity, while an emotional One Bird In The Sky was a high point.  But Robert Forster is not a ‘ cry in your beer’ type, and he used the expanse of the stage to dance and strut on Learn to Burn.

An encore featured Danger In the Past, Strawberries, and People Say before they finished with Surfing Magazines, which had all the audience singing along.

While definitely a night for the fans, it was an upbeat and… fun show which put a smile on the audiences faces